Brain Wave, Family and Home living, Self-Care Corner

The Importance Of Taking Care Of Yourself As A Parent

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As a parent, it can be too easy to put your own needs to one side and forget that you need to be looked after as well as your little ones. It’s important to realize that you are your best for them when you are taking care of yourself. Easier said than done, as it can be hard to break habits but you should try to make sure you put some level of your focus on you. Even if it means scheduling yourself some recuperation time or prioritizing a few elements of family life to benefit your health it’s vital you take some time to become the best you can be by looking after yourself to look after them.

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Have a look below at some of the forgotten areas of your life you should focus on as a parent to make sure you’re looked after too:

Schedule Your Own Healthcare

It’s extremely easy as a parent to be completely on top of all your kid’s appointments and then push yours to one side. However, you shouldn’t only be looking after them you should be on top of yours too. What would they do if you were out of action because you hadn’t got the right healthcare that you needed at the right time? So if you have a health check that you need to get to, an appointment with a personal injury lawyer that you’ve been putting off or a trip to the dentist that you should have attended months ago make sure you catch up and then keep up with these. You wouldn’t miss the appointments for your children’s health so why would you miss yours?

Sleep Should Be A Priority

Okay, so this might seem easier said than done with little ones running around. Especially if they are having naps, and all going to bed at different times because of age gaps. However, it should be a priority to try and get at least the minimum amount recommended for an adult, which is seven to eight hours a night by the way. Lack of sleep can have serious adverse effects on someone’s health so getting enough means you are setting yourself up to feel better when your kids are taking every last scrap of energy. Yes, it can be easier to get things done when they are fast asleep but it should never cut into your own sleeping pattern.

Stay Connected To You As A Person

It can be very easy as a parent to lose your identity and forget who you are as an individual person or even as a couple. Whether it’s the daily routine of carpooling, preparing meals, washing the clothes, cleaning, getting the kid’s backpacks ready and many others or cleaning and picking up the groceries you should try to allocate some time to do something that you enjoy that doesn’t necessarily relate to being a parent. By doing this you’re not only keeping connected to yourself, but you’re teaching your children that it’s important as well as healthy to have some time alone doing things that make you happy. They will soon see that it’s good for them to have their own individual activities as well as ones with the family to be happy and healthy.

These are three ways to keep healthy and focused as a parent, there are many more. Do you have any that you can share int he comments section below?

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Brain Wave, Family and Home living

Settling Your Fears Regarding First-Time Home Ownership

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It can often be quite worrying when you decide to settle down. This is it, you think. We know you can only settle down for the first time, one time only. This is a similar feeling we have when potentially getting married. We know that we can likely have as many marriages as we would like, but it’s the first that counts. We wish for it to be special. We want it to last for good.

So, settling your fears regarding first-time home ownership can be quite a stressful time. It’s only tolerable due to the extreme amount of excitement and love you will likely feel as you do look around for this future life plan. That love tips the scales to this being a more-than-worthwhile thing to look forward to.

So, let us help you to that end.

When settling your fears regarding first-time home ownership, you may wish to consider:

Give Yourself Enough Time

Giving yourself enough time is crucial if you hope to make this process work for you. Otherwise, it can be that searching nearby houses in the area you wish to live can feel frantic, as if you need to make a decision now lest never live in a home for as long as you live. This is of course untrue, and it’s important to understand this as such. When you give yourself enough time to plan, and select a date you would like to move in by, you give realtors and property agents a clearer picture of what you need, and you can feel less rushed during the process.

Select A Great Mortgage Broker

A mortgage broker such as Altrua Financial can be a tremendous support when it comes to funding and understanding your financial commitments for your household. Without this absolutely ironed out, your contributions completely clear, and your method of payment already assigned and understood, you will have trouble finding a guide through this process, as not all mortgages are the same. They may also be open to helping you through other routes should your financial situation or needs are a little more unique than most – such as investment properties or properties abroad.

Speak To Those In The Know

Speaking to your family, your friends and those you know who have already gone through this process can be a real relief, because it shows you that it’s not impossible, no matter what issues might come up during your planning process. For most people, this can be a truly worthwhile and quite humbling thing to consider, and can make the most difference in the long term. A little reassurance can go a long way, and help you feel more like yourself throughout the process.

With this advice, we are certain that your first time home ownership will remain as smooth as can be.

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Brain Wave, Health and medicine, Life in general

The Facts About Why You’re So Fatigued

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Fatigue isn’t just feeling tired. When you’re feeling fatigued, a nap alone might not just cut it. It’s feeling like you don’t have the energy for just about anything, and can get in the way of a happy, healthy life. So, what’s bringing your energy levels all the way down and what can you do about it?

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You’re not sleeping right

Though fatigue and sleepiness aren’t always linked, there is often a direct link between the two. If you have lost control of your internal sleep clock, you might find it hard to increase the number of hours you sleep or when you go to bed. There are ways to reset that sleep clock, however. Limiting your exposure to blue light (from laptops, smartphone screens, and other electronics), fasting with 12 hours between breakfast and dinner, and even going camping and exposing your body to the day-night natural light cycle can all help. If you can restart your sleep clock, it can be much easier to go to bed a little earlier and wake up much more refreshed.

You’re not getting the nutrition you need

What we eat and what nutrients we absorb also play a big role when it comes to determining our energy levels. Well balanced meals spaced throughout the day improve our ability to digest food and how our metabolism converts energy, which means we feel more energetic. Hydration is just as important, and IV vitamin therapy can be the boost you need of both nutrients and hydration. It can help give you the energy boost you need while you make the move towards a healthier diet.

It could be in your head

The fact that mood can affect your energy is not a thought to be taken too lightly. Chronic fatigue and a distinct lack of motivation is one of the strange ways that depression can affect you. Depression isn’t just a state of mind, it influences the chemical balance in your brain, and can stop you feeling the effects of natural feel good chemicals like dopamine and endorphins, which give you that energy rush. Taking steps to address depression is essential if you feel like your fatigue is also paired with low moods.

Why it’s worth getting checked out

If you do believe that depression might be the cause of your fatigue, then arranging an appointment with your doctor can be one of the best ways to start addressing it. However, there are many potential medical causes of fatigue, some of them with symptoms and impacts that could be legitimately dangerous. These include diabetes, anemia, liver failure, COPD, sleep apnea, and more. You shouldn’t jump to any conclusions about what might be causing your fatigue. However, it is wise to get yourself checked out just to make sure there are no more serious problems lurking beneath it.

Whether it’s caused by lifestyle factors or there are real reasons you should be seeking medical advice, it’s important to stamp fatigue out when you have the chance. It’s impact on your mood, social life, and health habits are too serious to let lie.

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Brain Wave, Life in general

Ready to Mingle

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Have you noticed how easy it is to meet other single people nowadays? Single people like you and me. You don’t have to go out, go to a bar, or other party places, to meet someone special. All you have to do is go online and try out free dating sites. Why not, right?

I have been working really hard over the past two and a half decades for my family. I haven’t thought of settling down because I want to give my all to everyone around me first before I focus on myself. That’s why at my age, I am still single. But this girl is ready to mingle now that my siblings are stable in their lives. I would like to try out dating but since I am busy with work, it is best that I do it in the best platform at my disposal at the moment. The internet.

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Serious and Casual Dating

Dating is something I have done several times in the past. I have had serious dates and casual ones. I have done one-time dates but I have also been in exclusive relationships which I thought would lead to forever. I don’t regret any of it. I learned so much from every man I ever dated and it made me a better person each time.

Casual dating is employed by a lot of single individuals who want to just be with someone for a limited time. Dine out, drinks after, and maybe, some intimacy before parting ways. No calls the following day. No messages sent. Nothing that will make it to another date soon.

Serious dating is when one date turns into two, three, or weekly ones. Dinner, wine or beer after it, and staying the night. It is when calls and messages are made the day after. One date turns into a continuous communication and, most of the time, into an exclusive relationship.

Online Dating

I have friends who have met their significant others through online dating sites, like WeLoveDates. Some became serious, others fizzled out. I have tried it once but nothing came out of it because I really didn’t give it enough time and focus. I was too busy working my way up the corporate ladder to take time out to focus on online dating.

I want to give it another try, though. My friends have been telling me to date again because I am not getting any younger. I should enjoy life and not just let it pass me by. They are right, of course. I am ready to give my attention to dating and starting it online is the best option for me at the moment.

Living Life to the Fullest

I have told everyone I care about to always live life to the fullest, to always seize the moment and not to let anything important pass by. I should also apply it to my own life. I should also make sure that I am enjoying my life right now especially that I have done everything I can for my love ones.

You should, too.

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Brain Wave, Life Hacks & Tips and Tricks

How to Prepare for a Rally Race

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Rally racing is one of the most exciting sports for power sports enthusiasts. Rally racing will take you through rain, snow, sleet and ice over hundreds of miles of unforgiving terrain. Regardless of the course or how practiced you are in the sport, rallying will put your skill, speed and endurance to the test.

Whether you’ve been in a rally race before or this is your first time, you must prepare sufficiently both physically and mentally for the upcoming event. Preparation is not just about getting a quality and sturdy Fly Racing gear or packing your bags and tuning your bike. It’s about physical training, mental conditioning and rhythm schooling. If you want to compete in the next big race, you need to shape up. Use the tips below to get started.

Mental Preparation

Much of rally racing is a mental sport, as racing for days on end with little human contact takes a lot out of a person. Racers always push themselves to do better and be better than those around them. It’s important to note that rally racing isn’t necessarily about winning by beating your opponents, but rather, about beating nature.

Physical Preparation

Your training should exercise your whole body, from your neck all the way down to your toes. Training should begin the moment you decide to participate. One suggested exercise is rowing. This is because rowing trains everything from your shoulders down to your back and to your legs. The race rhythm starts with your training rhythm. You can’t expect much if you don’t train smart. You don’t have to kill your body training, but you have to train to your body abilities and listen to your own limitations.

Bike Preparation

It is important that you prep your bike well before the race. And prep the bike yourself. You’ll need OEM motorcycle fairings to reduce air drag. The secondary functions are the protection of the rider from airborne hazards and wind-induced hypothermia and of the engine components in the case of an accident. By prepping the machine yourself, you will know every inch of it, inside out. When it breaks down in the middle of a race, you will know exactly what to do to access different parts of the bike.

Bike selection

Choosing the right bike is important, because of the different terrain the course covers. Weight and carrying capacity are a delicate balancing act. Since a rally-style race traverses public roads, the machines need to be street-legal too. Start with something as light as possible as you will be adding a bunch of OEM as well as best aftermarket motorcycle parts to the bike.

The weight becomes noticeable when you have to keep picking up a bike in the sand and heat and you’re exhausted and dehydrated. In this context, a single-cylinder motorcycle makes a heck of a lot of sense

Finally, it doesn’t matter whether you finish first or last. What is important is that you chase your dream, take part and that you have a go — while others wish they had.

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Brain Wave, Family and Home living, Life in general, Money matters

8 Reasons To Buy Your Home in the Summer

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Buying a home doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience. Here are eight reasons why the lazy days of summer are the best time to contact your realtor Marina del Rey and kickstart the home-buying process.

1. Summer’s the best time to sell your old home.

If you’re moving from a rental property, all you have to do is navigate your lease agreement. If you own your soon-to-be-former home, however, you may need to coordinate its sale with the purchase of your new home. Summer’s the best time to do that.

2. You’ll have more properties to choose from.

Since summer is an ideal time to sell, you’ll have more options as a buyer. Year in and year out, the number of homes on the market rises along with the temperatures. This means you can be flexible and avoid having to settle for a property that offers less than what you were looking for or that isn’t right for your budget.

3. The weather is better for moving.

This is particularly important if you’re moving to or from a part of the country that experiences brutal winters. Lugging furniture and boxes through the snow is no fun. Neither is paying professional movers to endure the elements in your place.

4. Mortgage rates are usually lower.

While markets certainly fluctuate, generally speaking, mortgage rates are lower in the summer. Locking in a lower interest rate and cheaper home loan has the potential to deliver considerable savings in the long run, no matter if you’re interested in single-family homes, condos, or townhomes for sale.

5. Your kids are out of school.

Moving is a big adjustment for kids, no matter their age. You can ease the transition, especially if they’ll be changing schools, by making your move during the summer.

6. It’s a good time for DIY projects.

If you’ve got your eye on a fixer upper, summer can be the best time to buy. The weather is more cooperative for DIY projects, and it’s often easier to take time off of work as well. If your children are out of school or home from college, you can stick a rake or a screwdriver in their hands, too.

7. You can get a better feel for the neighborhood.

What do you do when the weather turns cold? You stay inside with a good book or a Netflix binge as frequently as possible. Your potential neighbors likely do too. That’s why summer presents the best time to get a real idea of what the neighborhood is like. In the warm weather, your future neighbors will be out and about, allowing you to get a feel for things such as how many kids are on your block and who needs to break out the lawnmower more often.

8. You could snag a spring price drop.

Spring is also a popular time for sellers to list their homes. Come summertime, however, if a house hasn’t sold, some sellers are motivated to lower their prices in order to get things moving and avoid spending another season with their homes on the market.

Buying a home during the summer can alleviate many of the stresses that moving brings. If you’ve been thinking about a change of address, contact your Los Angeles real estate agent today to start the search for your dream home.

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Brain Wave, Careers, Freelancing and Self-Employment, Work at Home

Creating An Ideal Working Space From Home

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Working from home gives you a lot of freedom, but at the same time, creating an ideal workspace at home where you can work well can sometimes be difficult. So if you are wanting some advice on creating this space for yourself, here are some tips.

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Keep It To The One Room

The worst thing that you can do is to use your laptop to work in various areas of the house. That then becomes an issue because you’ll have these areas that feel like a workspace and a living space. It’s important not to confuse the two together. Keep it the one room and have a separate office space or use something like your dining room where you can sit at a table and get the proper support for your body. To stop yourself from going to a different room, think about investing in a desktop computer which you could move, but would be a pain. Keep any electronics like your TV that may be a distraction off and if it helps, close your office door to avoid any temptations to procrastinate in another room.

Have The Right Equipment

Talking of the proper support, with any business, you’ll have the option to add things to your workplace to make it more comfortable. Things like a monitor riser for example or an adjustable footrest work really well to help you keep your posture at the right position and that avoids any health problems further down the line. If you’re going to be doing a lot of work on your computer, you may find that after a certain period of time you are maybe getting headaches and that your eyes become tired and sore. This is thanks to blue light, and in order to fix this, it may be wise to get some blue light blocking glasses so that you can continue to work long hours without impacting your eye health too much.

Let In The Light

Light can do a lot for our mood, and when it comes to working all day indoors, you need to make sure the lighting is perfect. Natural light is the best kind of lighting, so if you find the sun catches your office or working space, move your position so that you are sitting near this pool of light. Immediately you feel a change in the way you feel, and that can be really beneficial for your productivity levels. Also, have a think about the lighting that you have in the form of table or standing lights. Ideally, you want them to be warm instead of that harsh clinical white. You can also get lighting that can mimic natural light too, so this can be used to help you wake up on time in the mornings.

Think About The Temperature

A lot of things can affect your productivity, and one of them is the temperature of the room. If it’s too hot or too cold, then your productivity levels will dip, and that’s never any good for your work. As you’re working from home, you don’t get that luxury of being able to have free heating or air-conditioning. But you can still provide yourself with a nice atmosphere where the temperature is just right to help you continue working. When it comes to heating, it’s good to turn it off and on intermittently. You want it to take the chill off the room, and so you can get it to turn on around thirty minutes until you are due to get up. Switch it off and then back on around lunchtime and then maybe back on in the mid-afternoon.

When it hits the warmer periods of the year, keeping the room cool is very important. You don’t want to be sweating while you’re working, let’s be honest. So invest in a good cooling fan that you can keep on in the background while working, and this constant stream of cool air will definitely help. To keep your home maintenance in a fit state, it might be worth looking at a heating and air service, just to make sure that everything is in working order. You’ll be working from home so it will be a nightmare if your heating suddenly stops in the middle of winter.

Block Out Distraction

Even in a traditional workplace, there are distractions. Whether it’s talking to a colleague about what you got up to at the weekend or browsing on the internet to look for some new clothes for the wardrobe. These distractions can stop you from getting important work done. So as a rule, you might want to block certain websites from home which you can do via your internet settings. This temporary freeze can stop your procrastinating side from getting onto a site that’s going to waste your time. Depending on how you like to work, music or the TV on in the background may help you, but you don’t want anything that is going to draw your attention and leaves you watching or listening without working for a good ten minutes. Having a break is important, but not when it becomes half an hour instead of ten minutes. Make a proactive effort to block out your distractions so that you can make as much out of your working day as possible.

Creating an ideal space for working from home can be tough but also once it’s been perfected, it can be a great freedom to be able to pick your own hours and to be your own boss with how you work. Remember to keep it to the one room so that you separate your workspace from your living space. Ensure you have the right equipment to make it comfortable for you. Adjust lighting and room temperatures for the perfect atmosphere to work. And finally, block out the distractions so that you can make the most of your day. Being in charge of yourself can be tough, but if the working space is right, you’ll find your groove and hopefully will gain a lot of success from the comfort of your own home.

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